"We've got this, Austin, push," Morgan shouted. "Don't look at the tub, just paddle with all you've got." The shouting made Morgan lose count on her paddling, and the vessel veered to the left when she paddled for a second on the wrong side. The tub was just ahead, and those ruthless b.a.s.t.a.r.ds had the foresight to wear gloves. Morgan's hands burned from the friction, and her arms felt like they were on fire.

Austin roared as he put all he had into the paddling. She followed suit, focusing on her breathing to keep her mind off the agony in her arms. She wanted victory, she wanted it for Austin. "Hey, bud, I'm still back here paddling, and I'm not gonna give up, but I have to be quiet to conserve energy. I just want you to know that I'm so d.a.m.n proud of you, and nothing will ever change that."

Austin's strokes became wider, faster. He was pouring on the juice. Morgan breathed out between clenched teeth, releasing a hiss on every stroke she made. They moved alongside the tub, but neither she nor Austin dared to break concentration to look at their opponents. Their eyes were on the goal. Unified in the sole focus, they pushed themselves hard and took the lead.

"Oh, my G.o.d, oh, my G.o.d," Jaclyn chanted as she watched. Thor and the tub were side by side, and she could clearly see the fatigue in Austin and Morgan. Thor was getting close enough that Jaclyn no longer needed the binoculars. With every stroke they made, she did too. She didn't care that she looked like an idiot swinging her arms. She jumped off the deck still rowing as though she could help them in some way. When Thor broke the finish line, Jaclyn took off running.

Morgan's lungs were on fire, and her arms felt like they were filled with ants when Austin threw himself on her, knocking her out of Thor. They hit the water tangled together. The shock of the cold stole her breath away, and when they broke the surface, she gasped.

"I love you, man!" Austin yelled in her face. "I love you! I mean it."

He looked surprised then, and Morgan was certain she looked the same. "I love you, too, Austin," she said with a laugh and meant it.

Something cat-like with a head of blond hair sailed into the air with all four limbs outstretched and landed in the water between them. Jaclyn emerged seconds later and grabbed them both around their necks. The three of them laughed and screamed in victory as Maddie stood on the bank snapping one picture after another.

A deerskin when wet smells so much worse than when it's dry, Morgan thought with disgust. The stench wafted up from beneath the blanket she was wrapped in as she and Austin stood on the podium in the park next to the mayor. The muscles in her jaw flexed to keep her teeth from chattering. Austin bounced beside her as second and third prizes were awarded.

"First prize goes to Austin Wyatt and Captain Morgan Cha.s.sion," the mayor announced as he handed them a large trophy. Austin held it up, and the crowd roared. Morgan shied away when the mayor asked if she would like to say a few words, but Austin grabbed the mic from his hands.

"I want to thank my mom for letting me be in the race and for helping us decorate Thor. I want to thank all the businesses that donated the prizes, but I want to thank most the person that made this possible for me because no one else would let me be their partner, not even a guy I thought was my best friend." Austin looked at Morgan. "I have a new best friend, though. I wouldn't be up here now if it wasn't for her. I know I'll never find a better partner than Morgan Cha.s.sion." Austin handed the mic back to the mayor and threw his arms around Morgan's neck.

Over his shoulder, Morgan saw Jaclyn standing at the front of the crowd next to Maddie. There were tears in her eyes. She wasn't just losing her heart to Jaclyn, but Austin too. She recognized the look in Jaclyn's eyes, the way she behaved, because she'd seen it in herself. And as much as she'd tried to deny it in those quiet moments when common sense told her she was getting too deep with an uncertain future, she accepted that she was falling head over heels, and Jaclyn was too. The tiny bit of reserve she still held on to slipped from her grasp, and Morgan decided to fall regardless of where she would land.

Maddie pursed her lips as Morgan stepped out of the bathroom wearing Heath's clothes. "Baggy, but not bad." She smiled. "You smell much better, though. You can keep those. They don't fit him anymore."

"Thank you, Maddie." She doubted Heath would want them back if he knew she was going commando. She felt like a misfit in loaned clothes and a pair of Heath's old work boots, but there was no way she was going to be able to get back across the lake for a while unless it was by boat. Lake Sh.o.r.e Drive had become one giant block party, and there were still children's races happening on the lake.

Jaclyn was on the phone when Morgan walked out onto the deck. "Are you sure? Oh, please tell Skip I appreciate him so much, and you too, Betsy. I don't know what I would've done without you and Ida."

Morgan grinned. Jaclyn's usual attire was jeans or shorts, usually a b.u.t.ton-down shirt or a T-shirt, but she'd been forced to wear her sister's clothes. The blinged-out jeans showed off her b.u.t.t, and the blue and white-striped mid-length-sleeved shirt hugged her upper body like a glove.

"You look hot," Morgan said lowly when Jaclyn ended her call.

Jaclyn put a hand on her hip. "I'll tell you what's hot-you in a deerskin with that Viking hat. If it didn't smell so bad, I'd ask you to wear it more often."

Morgan moved closer and whispered, "I'd offer to wear the hat tonight, but I can't lift my arms. I'm really afraid you're going to have to feed me."

"I'll take any excuse to be close to you right now. Are you thirsty?"

"I could drink a gallon of water, to be honest. I drank a lot out of the showerhead, that's what took me so long."

Jaclyn grinned as she picked up a bottle from the table on Maddie's deck and held it to Morgan's lips. "I'll feed you and make sure you have plenty to drink, and later you can just lay there." One of Jaclyn's brows rose seductively. "I'll do all the work, and you'll hear no complaints from me." She seemed to take great pleasure in the water spilling down the front of Morgan's shirt as her lip sagged.

Jaclyn made good on her promise to keep Morgan fed. The few times she did try to lift her own fork, her hands shook so much she couldn't get the food in her mouth. Austin wasn't much better off. His shirt was stained with punch where he'd spilled it all over himself. He sat next to Morgan in a lawn chair after they'd moved to the park. Cajun dance music filled the air as a band played beneath the pavilion. Morgan watched as Maddie and Jaclyn twirled surrounded by other dancers.

Jaclyn's smile was radiant as they danced. Her hair had dried on its own and was wild around her face. Morgan's desire flared despite the exhaustion that pinned her to the chair. She would never kiss or touch Jaclyn enough to satisfy her.

"You can't stop staring at her, can you?"

Morgan glanced at Austin. "Your mother is a very special woman, I'm sure you already know that."

"Yeah. I think it's really funny to watch y'all get all googly-eyed. Adults don't do that much. I know Aunt Maddie loves Uncle Heath, but they don't look at each other like that."

"You're pretty observant for a young dude," Morgan said with a laugh.

Austin looked down at the blisters on his hands. "When Logan used to talk to me, he told me that his mom goes in her room and cries a lot. His dad told him not to worry because women do that, but Logan thinks they're not gonna stay together." Austin slowly met Morgan's gaze. "Don't make my mom cry, okay?"

Morgan swallowed hard. "I won't, I promise."

Austin's gaze searched hers for a moment, then he seemed to relax when he found truth there. "I wish we could go home. I'm tired, and everything I've got is aching." He sank lower in his chair and laid his head on her shoulder.

Morgan smiled, warmed by the fact that Austin took comfort in her. As she looked up at the stars, she marveled at how much of a difference he and his mother made in her life in such a short time. She'd fallen in love twice.

Chapter Thirty-three.

Jaclyn was in that very light stage of sleep when the brain says it's time to get up and the body doesn't want to, except for the bladder. The absence of Morgan roused her enough to notice the clock beside the bed. "s.h.i.t!" It was already eight o'clock on a Sunday, and she hadn't opened the store. While she scrambled around the bedroom, it dawned on her why the room was so dark. She pulled the blinds back and frowned at the dreary day. No one would be on the lake this morning, especially after the regatta. This slowed her stride.

After she dressed, she went down to the kitchen where Austin struggled to make pancakes. Piles of greasy dough lay next to the stove. "What're you doing, baby?"

"Morgan woke me up and told me to spoil you for taking care of us last night. She opened the store, so you could sleep in."

Jaclyn was genuinely touched. "That's so sweet."

"I've watched you do this a million times, and it looks so easy. What am I doing wrong?"

Jaclyn raised a brow as she noticed enough oil on the griddle to cook fries, it was a wonder he hadn't started a fire. "How about I show you?" She said as she kissed his cheek.

When Morgan walked into The Lure that morning, the store looked like it had been ransacked. She swept the floors before restocking the coolers with sodas and beer and was working on the snack aisle when Betsy walked in. "The victorious have risen," she said brightly. "Congratulations."

"Thanks, Betsy, but the victor is extremely sore. I'd thought I was in pretty decent shape until that race. The only thing that makes me feel better is that Austin feels as c.r.a.ppy as I do." She smiled as she said, "He's going to start weightlifting to train for next year."

"Where is Jaclyn this morning?"

Morgan put the last bag of potato chips on the shelf and tossed the box toward the storeroom. "Hopefully, she's still asleep. I switched off her alarm when I got up this morning. She managed to get two whiny babies tucked in last night, and I thought she deserved a break."

"You're very thoughtful, which is a wonderful character trait in a spouse."

Morgan's sleepy eyes widened. "We're not...I mean, we haven't gone that far."

"Yet," Betsy said smugly. "Will you be leaving for Thanksgiving?"

"Uh, no. My brother and his wife are expecting, and her parents are having a big get-together for the holiday. I'll see them for Christmas when they come here."

Betsy looked overjoyed. "Wonderful, you'll be here with us then. I was talking to Maddie the other day, and she said her folks won't be here, either. That got me thinking, and Ida and I have come up with a plan. If the weather's decent, we'd like to have the celebration outdoors and get everyone who lives on this end of Lake Sh.o.r.e to join in. It would be more fun than just eating a big meal and lying in front of the TV watching football."

Morgan was still weary from the celebration the day before but nodded with a smile. "That does sound like fun."

Betsy's next question came out of the blue. "Are you happy?"

Morgan was taken aback, but the answer was simple. She'd felt more carefree and content than she had all her adult life. "I am."

"I can see it," Betsy said with a nod as she turned and went to the drink station where she poured herself a cup of coffee. "You look so different from the night we talked."

Morgan ran her hand over her stomach where it protruded over a pair of jeans that had grown too tight. "Is that your way of saying I've gotten downright chubby?"

Betsy laughed as she stirred creamer into her cup. "No, love, you're far from that. You needed a few pounds, and I see Jaclyn's cooking and care have provided that. You look healthier, but your face tells the real story. The worry lines have faded, and there's a light in your eyes."

There were days when the loss of her father still felt acute, and she contemplated her financial future with trepidation, but then Jaclyn would unknowingly say or do something that chased the darkness away.

Betsy was clutching her cup in both hands as she joined Morgan at the counter. "You look like a woman in love."

Morgan blew out a breath. "Does Jaclyn look the same way, or is it wishful thinking on my part?"

"It's no dream, darlin'. I've never seen her look at anyone the way she does you."

Morgan smiled and looked away. She inhaled deeply as she watched the boats moving along the water picking up the remains of not-boats that had sunk. "I'd thought things would be so different when I finally found someone who makes me feel like she does. At one time, I was the go-to girl. My brother and my friends came to me when they needed help. Now I feel like I've become some needy soul that has to be taken care of. I have no job, how am I going to contribute? How am I going to provide for her and Austin?"

Betsy put her hand on Morgan's arm. "Look around you. Does Jaclyn look like she needs to be taken care of in that way? What she needs is someone who makes her happy. The only thing you need to provide her with is your love." Betsy softly squeezed Morgan's arm. "I've been around for a long time, and I've watched that girl take care of this store when she was sick. Her heart was completely broken when Augie died, and still she came in here and took care of things. What you did this morning, as simple as it may seem to you, is a very big deal to her, and your consideration is worth a lot more than any salary could provide. You need to let your guard down and let her take care of you while you do the same for her."

"That's sage advice," Morgan admitted as she tried to put her ego behind her. She'd lived what she thought was the good life, sipping fine wines in pricey restaurants, shopping whenever she wanted to without a care. She'd bought things on impulse like the Jeep she loved, but with all those trappings, she still longed for what she had in Jaclyn-the perfect mate.

"I told Chet that I'd make him some of my homemade biscuits this morning, so I have to go." Betsy released her hold on Morgan. "Take my advice, baby."

"Thanks," Morgan said with a smile as she watched her go. Her shoes echoed on the wood floor as she went to the drink station for a cup of coffee. The crickets chirped in their cages, and she could hear the waves the boats made lapping at the pilings beneath her. Jaclyn's world was peaceful, and The Lure was as much a part of her as Austin was. Even if a lucrative position came Morgan's way, there was no hope of asking Jaclyn to leave something that was such an integral part of her.

"I brought you breakfast," Jaclyn said, pulling Morgan from her thoughts.

Morgan felt warmth fill her chest and spread through her body as that voice washed over her. She turned and smiled at Jaclyn, her pulse quickening at the sight. "I seem to have a problem with your cooking." She raised her shirt to show that she could no longer close the b.u.t.ton on her jeans.

Jaclyn's laugh was delightful as she set the foil-covered plate on the counter. "Did I get you pregnant?"

"It sure looks like it," Morgan agreed as she patted her stomach. "How am I gonna fit the Thanksgiving dinner Betsy's planning in there?"

Jaclyn walked over and wrapped her arms around Morgan's waist. "With everything going on, I've forgotten all about Thanksgiving. Are you saying that you'll be here?"

"Mm-hmm," Morgan murmured against Jaclyn's lips. She grinned when Jaclyn held her tighter.

"I wasn't looking forward to the holidays. I just figured that you'd go to your brother's house, and I meant to ask you about it a dozen times, but something always came up."

"I'll be with you for Christmas too, because Brad and Tonya are coming here."

"You have no idea how happy that makes me," Jaclyn said as she breathed against Morgan's neck.

"The way you're squeezing me is a good indicator."

Jaclyn's hands roamed over the back pockets of Morgan's jeans. "Where are the keys to the store?"

"I'd like to lie and say they're in my front pocket, but they're on the counter." Morgan slumped when she let her go. She watched as Jaclyn picked up the keys, locked the door, and flipped the sign around. "Are you closing?"

"For a little while, yes." Jaclyn's smile was provocative, and Morgan felt a different kind of warmth sweep over her.

"In front of the crickets and all the windows?"

Jaclyn took her hand. "I can a.s.sure you that the cases of beer in the storeroom won't mind a bit."

"You randy rascal," Morgan said as Jaclyn pushed her into the room and closed the door.

"There was so much I wanted to do to you last night, but you were so tired when we came in." Jaclyn made quick work of the b.u.t.tons on Morgan's shirt and pushed her hands away when Morgan tugged on her sweatshirt. "I'm being a little selfish right now. You don't mind, do you?"

Morgan's mind scrambled to formulate a witty comeback, but all thought was lost when Jaclyn pushed away her bra. She closed her eyes as Jaclyn's warm mouth teased her nipples. Jaclyn was moving fast as she unzipped Morgan's jeans and pushed them down her hips while she leaned against the wall.

Jaclyn was a s.e.xy lover, vocal about what she wanted, and not the least bit timid about doing whatever she wanted. Morgan wasn't always in control, though that was her natural inclination, and she loved it. She moaned softly when Jaclyn's hand slid between her legs. Morgan wrapped one arm around Jaclyn's shoulders as she kissed her and blindly grabbed at the boxes next to her for support. Their breathing was erratic as Jaclyn worked her, the kisses bruising. Morgan turned away as she gasped and held it. The o.r.g.a.s.m was intense and left her leaning heavily into Jaclyn.

"Make me work for it next time," Jaclyn whispered against her hair with a laugh.

"You know me by now. The second is going to come much quicker than the first."

"I can do inventory in here until you calm down."

Morgan stood a little straighter. "You go ahead and see if you can count." She tugged Jaclyn's shirt off, pleased to see that she'd not bothered putting on a bra. "Are you wearing anything under these sweatpants?" she asked as she ran her hands beneath the waistband. "And that answer would be no."

"I got dressed in a hurry." Jaclyn sighed as Morgan ran her mouth over her bare skin.

Morgan pulled her pants up over her hips and backed Jaclyn to where the cases of beer were stacked knee high. "No," she said when Jaclyn started to sit. Morgan moved her and took a seat as she jerked Jaclyn's pants to the floor. "You will straddle me, and I'll watch you."

Jaclyn kicked off her sneakers and stepped out of the sweatpants. "Anything you want," she said as she pushed Morgan onto her back.

"Anything?" Morgan asked against Jaclyn's lips when she leaned down to kiss her. "I'll keep that in mind when we have more room to move around and a lot more privacy."

Jaclyn laughed, then sucked in a breath between her teeth when Morgan's fingers went to work. Morgan loved the feel of her, the smell of her skin, and how wet it made Jaclyn when she touched her. She moved slowly, though Jaclyn's thrusts were insistent. She put a hand on Jaclyn's shoulder and pushed her upright. "Yours won't happen as fast."